Kaizer Chiefs shrugged off their pre-season form to beat Benoni United 2-0 convincingly in their first 2007/08 Premier Soccer League (PSL) clash at a packed but chilly Germiston Stadium on Wednesday.
Teenage debutant Mandla Masango scored in the 10th minute and Mabhuti Khanyeza, who missed numerous chances, netted from the penalty spot in extra time to seal victory for the Amakhosi.
Chiefs outplayed the Meek Rabbits, as Benoni are known, in every department and showed their quality after they faltered hopelessly during the pre-season.
Tinashe Nengomashe was menacing in midfield and supported his flashier teammates with enough balls to kill off their hosts. Thuso Phala was mesmerising on the right flank and veteran midfielder Thabo Mooki pulled the strings with confidence.
Left-back Onismor Bhasera was menacing in attack and composed in defence, and Masango scored through Bhasera’s industrious work. Bhasera played a telling cross over a static Benoni defence that tried to play an offside trap, but Masango ran from deep to head the ball past a bemused Lance Niewenhuis in goal.
Chiefs continued the pressure and with Cyril Nzama marshalling his defence superbly, they hardly gave Benoni a sniff at goal. Despite their dominance, Chiefs went in to the break one goal up.
Ten minutes after the break, Masango again got goalside but was denied by Niewenhuis. Spurred on by their fans, Chiefs dominated but Niewenhuis proved to be a saviour for the shattered Rabbits.
Shaun Bartlett, who replaced Sandile Zuke, was denied when Niewenhuis made a reflex save off his goal-bound header.
Benoni defended desperately and as time ran out committed silly fouls. However, when Phala got goalside a desperate tackle from behind was not as silly as referee Jerome Damon pointed to the spot.
With the game seconds from being over, Khanyeza stepped up to finish off the hosts with a well-taken penalty and his first goal in the black and gold of the Amakhosi.
Amazulu shock Sundowns
Meanwhile, reigning PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns were unceremoniously hauled down to earth 2-1 by Amazulu in their encounter at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Wednesday evening.
In what will remain the biggest upset of the opening day of the new season, Sundowns failed to ignite this fixture with the type of football that saw them cruelly dispatch Bloemfontein Celtic 4-1 in the SAA Supa 8 on Saturday at the very same venue.
Sundowns shot themselves in the foot from early on in the game by failing to penetrate what looked like a shaky Amazulu defence, preferring to play aimlessly with the ball in the centre of the field.
Even though the scoreboard flattered Amazulu, who toiled little for their goals, it was their tactic to catch Sundowns on the counter that worked perfectly in their favour.
The visitors’ first goal was opportunistic at best and came through a reckless error from Sundowns defender Benson Mhlongo who failed to clear the ball on the halfway line. Amazulu striker Dumisani Ngwenya pounced on Mhlongo’s error and ran 35m to tuck the ball neatly under Brian Baloyi’s shoulder in the 41st minute.
For all their aimless efforts, Sundowns rarely showed the intention to score, with Surprise Moriri’s free kick in the 37th minute striking the crossbar being the only glimmer of hope in the first half for the hosts.
Sundowns came out firing in the second half, but a free kick in the 49th minute by Dillon Sheppard sailed over the crossbar. Two minutes later, Ngwenya grabbed his brace after carving through the napping Sundowns defence to drill the ball past Baloyi from an acute angle.
The hosts showed another glimpse of a revival when Gift Leremi was the final recipient of a neat three-pass move to score on the hour mark.
Amazulu tried to mount a few more attacks to try to cement their lead, but they were met by stern defence from Sundowns, who were looking desperate in the dying minutes of the game.
The final signs of a horrid day in the office came in the 76th minute when Manqoba Ngwenya’s equaliser was disallowed.
Amazulu will take the points after having forced the game to start 25 minutes late with the visitors having to borrow socks from Sundowns.
Leopards, Santos
Black Leopards started their new PSL season with a convincing 2-0 win over Supersport United at Thohoyandou. The game started late as some of United’s players had problems with their registration.
Leopards took the lead shortly before half-time through a well-taken goal by Thabiso Hlalele who beat Andre Arendse — who otherwise had a good game .
Leopards had more scoring opportunities but were denied by Arendse and the final goal came in the 50th minute when Myron Shomgwe found the net.
Santos twice came from behind to share the spoils with Free State Stars in their PSL match at the Athlone Stadium.
The newcomers shocked their more experienced opponents when they took the lead in the second minute, when Diyo Sibisi capitalised on confusion between defenders to score.
Santos slowly took control with some good work and equalised six minutes into the second half through Ryan Chapman.
Former Santos player Ruben Cloete provided a cross for Sibisi to head home a second goal to give Stars the lead again.
In optional time, Odieno made amends for an earlier error when he scored the equaliser. — Sapa